UJC MetroWest helps Temple arrange 'Day with UJA' during Israel mission

When Temple B’nai Jeshurun of Short Hills sponsored a temple-wide mission to Israel, Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz worked with the UJC MetroWest Missions Department to plan a day visiting the Ethiopian community in Rishon LeZion, one of UJC MetroWest’s partnership communities in Israel.

"The Ethiopian community is a segment of Israeli society that North American Jewry knows about because of the famous and significant airlifts in the late 80s and early 90s," said Gewirtz. "We know about the famous pictures of the landing and we know about the falashim, but since then, we've heard much less about what has happened."

Gewirtz explained that the day in Rishon LeZion helped bring into focus the many facets of this unique community within the larger Israeli society. He said that those on the mission were able to see the blending of Israeli culture with native Ethiopian (falash) culture, all of which adds to the pluralistic and diverse Israeli society.

During the visit, mission participants had the opportunity to enjoy new cuisine and traditional Ethiopian dancing with their new friends in Rishon LeZion and learned about how some important soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces come from homes with a tradition rooted in Ethiopian and Israeli culture.

"We were fortunate to sit down in small groups with residents of the community and hear stories that you think were only written about in books," said Gewirtz. "These were tales of how they painfully but proudly made their way to Israel, of how people had enough food but couldn't digest anything because of the lack of water. They were happy to sit with us and tell their stories.

"Our day in Rishon LeZion was an authentic Israeli experience – living Judaism and living Zionism. It turned our trip from being a tour to being a mission. Instead of touring as outsiders, we were able to experience Israel like insiders."

UJC MetroWest is available to work with individuals, synagogues, and organizations to plan a "Day with UJA" as part of your next Israel experience. To learn more, contact the UJC MetroWest Missions Department at (973) 929-3046 or .